Dive into The Florida Aquarium’s New Exclusive Encounter: Stingray Feeding Experience

May 26, 2024

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Tampa, FL (May 26, 2024) – The Florida Aquarium is inviting guests to dive into the fascinating world of aquatic life with its newest immersive encounter: Stingray Feeding Experience. During this exclusive adventure—which launches on Tuesday, May 28—guests will go behind the scenes and learn what it’s like to care for marinelife by preparing food for and handfeeding the Aquarium’s cownose stingrays in an unforgettable hands-on experience.

Guests will begin in the Commissary, where they will discover what it takes to nourish and care for the residents of The Florida Aquarium. They will also take part in preparing the cownose stingray’s specific daily diet. Participants will then have the opportunity to meet with a stingray biologist and step into the role of caregiver as they hand-feed the Aquarium’s enchanting marine animal, named for its unique head shape that looks like a cow’s nose. During the interactive session, guests will have a chance to feed and touch the rays and participate in a training session.

“I think this is a cool opportunity for guests because you get to see what we do in our normal day. This is how we take care of our stingrays,” said Anna Garcia, Senior Biologist at The Florida Aquarium. “People usually just see it when we’re feeding, but they don’t see the intricate details of what it takes to prep their food, how we manage their diet, and then how we actually offer food to them, make sure each one of them is eating, as well as doing all the training that we do for their animal welfare.”

Stingray Feeding Experience Details:

• Runs from 2:10-3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
• Must be at least 8 years of age
• Children between the ages of 8-12 must be accompanied by a paid adult
• Maximum capacity of 6 people
• Involves the handling of raw fish and shellfish
• Possibility of getting wet

Guests can take part in this add-on immersive experience for $30 per person with a separate advanced general admission ticket purchased for the date of your experience. For more information about The Florida Aquarium and to reserve your spot for the Stingray Feeding Experience, please visit The Florida Aquarium’s website.